Thread: So where are the moderators?

In the only two sub-fora that I inhabit (math and physics), there are a couple of posters whose grip on reality is, to put it mildly, tenuous, and who are jamming up a lot of perfectly mainstream discussion.

I'm sure they are nice people, I have no real problem with them, but I ask you to consider the following: you have a lot of casual visitors. If every thread in, say, math or physics is so contaminated by these guys, would one of these visitors consider joining and contributing to this site?

I strongly suggest not. So, do you want this site to be an "alternative science" site, or not? If the latter (which I hope), I believe stricter moderation is required. So, where are the moderators? What do they actually do?

So there

-b-

moderators don't do, they are

PS is this the sort of drivel you're referring to ?

One view of forums such as this would hold that there is a benefit in the appearance of weirdos and their views.

1. They provide an opportunity for the entusiastic amateur to deepen his understanding of the topic by mounting arguments against the lunatic concepts.
2. Since these lunatic concepts are often commonly held beliefs of the undereducated, the counterarguments provide a means of educating the neophytes.
3. Sometimes the different perspectives force one to take a fresh look at long held views - always a good thing in science.

On the other hand to properly moderate any forum requires a depth of knowledge of the forum subject matter that is adequate to the task. How many moderators, or would be moderators can justifiably claim to be Renaissance men.

[It may not be apparent, but I agree with you. I just don't know how we go about doing it effectivley.]

Ophiolite, you mis-read me slightly. I have no objection to people posting alternative views, for some of the reasons you give (although the seriously un-informed may have trouble distinguishing the alternative from the mainstream counter-argument).

No, my objection is that the individuals I'm thinking of (I stress again, I have nothing personal against them) have a habit of leaping into every discussion with their alternative views. I would far prefer it if they would stick to threads either of their own making, or were at least a little more parsimonious with their interventions. Surely a quiet word from an informed moderator (see below) to "cool it", followed, if need be, by a rather less quiet word, might do the trick?

As to the problem with moderation. Again, this is not an attack on any moderator, of course you can't expect them to be all things to all men. An easy solution would be to assign to each moderator one or two, say, sub-fora for which they do have demonstrable expertise. Is this considered impractical for any reason?

Originally Posted by Guitarist

An easy solution would be to assign to each moderator one or two, say, sub-fora for which they do have demonstrable expertise. Is this considered impractical for any reason?

I was a moderator for a time, then stood down. I was (temporarily, perhaps) reinstated the other day when I offered to help clean up the spam attack by ATOMIKPSYCHO. I mention this since I'm not sure what the current thinking amongst the mods is on this point.
I agree with you that specific mods for specific fora could be a good idea. (In that regard H.U. I would be happy enough to moderate Astronomy & Cosmology, Earth Sciences, History and, if required, Biology.)
Cheers
O.

Originally Posted by Ophiolite

Astronomy & Cosmology, Earth Sciences, History and, if required, Biology.)
Cheers
O.

The litterature subjects, that one can be god on. Good.

Originally Posted by LeavingQuietly

The litterature subjects, that one can be god on. Good.

I'm having difficulty interpreting that. Perhaps you can clarify.

Originally Posted by Ophiolite

Originally Posted by LeavingQuietly

The litterature subjects, that one can be god on. Good.

I'm having difficulty interpreting that. Perhaps you can clarify.

Well, you can grip them in a way you can't grip maths and physics, philosophy etc. It must be good for you, and you could eventually become god on it.

the one thing that makes me a bit uneasy about Guitarist's suggestion is that, if implemented, it will force the moderators to make decisions in grey areas such as quality of contributions, degree of off-topicness, degree of trolling etc. - a lot harder to judge than spamming or ad hominem attacks

Not necessarily. If a mod was fair-minded, tolerant and had the good of the forum members at heart, such arbitrary decisions about "quality" of post need not arise. (This disqualifies me, then, thank heaven).

Or put it another way: if a mod consistently behaved in a such manner that a number of members complained to admin that (s)he was exercising powers based on a narrow and personal view of what was politically correct thinking, they could be removed.

I think the Greeks had a name for this, damned if I can remember what it is........

Originally Posted by Guitarist

I think the Greeks had a name for this, damned if I can remember what it is........

Assassination. Wait! That's Arabic or Farsi. Oh, well.

On the other hand to properly moderate any forum requires a depth of knowledge of the forum subject matter that is adequate to the task. How many moderators, or would be moderators can justifiably claim to be Renaissance men.

Indeed. Which doesn't make moderators much easier. Heck, by my judgement I would toss out some people holding academic positions as being rubbish and unscientific if they became members here.
How and by what authority do you judge these things?

Ophiolite, you are free to restrict your moderation to whatever area you wish. I hope you won't mind me keeping you as a general moderator though, creating new moderator groups or assigning individual permissions screws up my delicate state of mind.. :P

Oh, if posts are deliberately setting off a thread, notify a moderator (I'm always receiving, though a bit slow, occasionally), and those posts will be moved, possibly to a new thread.

Originally Posted by HomoUniversalis

On the other hand to properly moderate any forum requires a depth of knowledge of the forum subject matter that is adequate to the task. How many moderators, or would be moderators can justifiably claim to be Renaissance men.

Indeed. Which doesn't make moderators much easier. Heck, by my judgement I would toss out some people holding academic positions as being rubbish and unscientific if they became members here.
How and by what authority do you judge these things?

Ophiolite, you are free to restrict your moderation to whatever area you wish. I hope you won't mind me keeping you as a general moderator though, creating new moderator groups or assigning individual permissions screws up my delicate state of mind.. :P

Oh, if posts are deliberately setting off a thread, notify a moderator (I'm always receiving, though a bit slow, occasionally), and those posts will be moved, possibly to a new thread.

Couldn't you have a "PM MOD" button, and some blue scetches of messages in the next window or sub menu to "PM MOD"? Like "OFF TOPIC" or "OBSCENE" or something?

Or a special posting option called comment that numerated the commented post and only obscene and off topic etc. smilies were aloud.
And if you removed the commented message, both messages dissapeared.

Do we really need a bunch of authoritarian controls set up? I would rather see moderation kept to a minimum.

no-one said anything about authoritarian - however, common sense says that frequenting an un(der)moderated forum can be a rather unsatisfactory experience

common sense says that frequenting an un(der)moderated forum can be a rather unsatisfactory experience

I think satisfaction is subjective not common sense as you put it.

*shrug* have it your way, i'm not one for starting an argument over word games

i'm not one for starting an argument over word games

It was just a comment, nothing more.

Well why not something funny, like a "black list" button, that you may only press on one post every day?

And when you have blacklisted someone, when you pm a moderator, all you have to do to link him to the black listed post is to press add blacklist.

Atleast that. Or that the black listed post link is emidietly added to a moderator.

How about y'all just do the adult thing and ignore people and posts you don't like or want to read?

If you are going to add something to the forum how about something important like better smilies.

Originally Posted by scpg02

How about y'all just do the adult thing and ignore people and posts you don't like or want to read?

you can't say you didn't ask for it - request granted

Originally Posted by marnixR

Originally Posted by scpg02

How about y'all just do the adult thing and ignore people and posts you don't like or want to read?

you can't say you didn't ask for it - request granted

LOL!

It is possible to ignore users. Also, you can always PM me if you have difficulties with a member/post.

scpg02, just joking - you're not on my ignore list, i reserve that for terminally boring people

PS yummy custard pie !

Originally Posted by marnixR

scpg02, just joking - you're not on my ignore list, i reserve that for terminally boring people

PS yummy custard pie !

LOL! Well that was how I took it hence the pie. It's rare for anyone to put me on an ignore list and I post on political forums with limited moderation. But then who wants to ignore cute smilies? I tend to be very sarcastic too. I think I will enjoy your posts, already have been, and hopefully you will enjoy mine.

Give me time to get to know everyone and I'll start posting more opinions.

PS back, I make great pies!

Originally Posted by HomoUniversalis

It is possible to ignore users. Also, you can always PM me if you have difficulties with a member/post.

this place is being over moderated.

Originally Posted by scpg02

Originally Posted by HomoUniversalis

It is possible to ignore users. Also, you can always PM me if you have difficulties with a member/post.

this place is being over moderated.

Thanks. I like thinking of myself as a replacement to Polpot and Sadam Hussein. So few people notice.

Originally Posted by HomoUniversalis

Thanks. I like thinking of myself as a replacement to Polpot and Sadam Hussein. So few people notice.

**marnix quickly hides his specs**

Originally Posted by HomoUniversalis

Originally Posted by scpg02

Originally Posted by HomoUniversalis

It is possible to ignore users. Also, you can always PM me if you have difficulties with a member/post.

this place is being over moderated.

Thanks. I like thinking of myself as a replacement to Polpot and Sadam Hussein. So few people notice.

Originally Posted by HomoUniversalis

Thanks. I like thinking of myself as a replacement to Polpot and Sadam Hussein. So few people notice.

Oh yeah....you're freaking Hitler.....I just wanted to thank you for upgrading my cell to one with a drain in the center...it's a real nice touch....and your censors....I tell you what...those guys can burn the hell out of some books.

This place is freaking la-la land compared with some other science-based forums (cough..sciforums)

Originally Posted by Guitarist

In the only two sub-fora that I inhabit (math and physics), there are a couple of posters whose grip on reality is, to put it mildly, tenuous, and who are jamming up a lot of perfectly mainstream discussion.

I'm sure they are nice people, I have no real problem with them, but I ask you to consider the following: you have a lot of casual visitors. If every thread in, say, math or physics is so contaminated by these guys, would one of these visitors consider joining and contributing to this site?

I strongly suggest not. So, do you want this site to be an "alternative science" site, or not? If the latter (which I hope), I believe stricter moderation is required. So, where are the moderators? What do they actually do?

So there

-b-

Guitarist, you should perhaps know that Jimi Hendrix was considered a lunatic by conventional music people. You really should throw your opinion out a very tall window. Almost every radically important change in science throught the past 5,000 years has been met with such opposition that some of the people with the new ideas were killed by those holding power in the consensus. With your attitude I doubt if you've ever come up with a truly original sound or song, so please respect the minds of others. I HATE dictatorship.

Looks like someone is asking to be banned.

Do you realize this thread is ~5 years old?

Originally Posted by MacGyver1968

Originally Posted by HomoUniversalis

Thanks. I like thinking of myself as a replacement to Polpot and Sadam Hussein. So few people notice.

Oh yeah....you're freaking Hitler.....I just wanted to thank you for upgrading my cell to one with a drain in the center...it's a real nice touch....and your censors....I tell you what...those guys can burn the hell out of some books.

This place is freaking la-la land compared with some other science-based forums (cough..sciforums)

At least one true Hitler moderator over on APOD Asterisk. It's really not worth being involved over there.

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

Looks like someone is asking to be banned.

Do you realize this thread is ~5 years old?

Flick .. who is the someone you are referring to?

Originally Posted by Aristarchus in Exile

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

Looks like someone is asking to be banned.

Do you realize this thread is ~5 years old?

Flick .. who is the someone you are referring to?

You.

I'm assuming you're intelligent enough to realize that bringing back a dead thread to berate a mod isn't conducive to a long stay on the forum.

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

Originally Posted by Aristarchus in Exile

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

Looks like someone is asking to be banned.

Do you realize this thread is ~5 years old?

Flick .. who is the someone you are referring to?

You.

I'm assuming you're intelligent enough to realize that bringing back a dead thread to berate a mod isn't conducive to a long stay on the forum.

Am I berating a moderator? Which moderator am I berating and how am I berating him or her? What important function is the age of a thread if the topic is important?

Originally Posted by Aristarchus in Exile

[Guitarist, you should perhaps know that Jimi Hendrix was considered a lunatic by conventional music people.

No he wasn't. And even if he were: so what?

If one crazy person was actually a genius, does that make all crazy people geniuses? No. It makes them crazy.

Secondly, G was referring to the maths forum where it is not a matter of opinion (like rock music) but a matter of proof (or otherwise). There is little room for opinion in science and none in maths.

Almost every radically important change in science throught the past 5,000 years has been met with such opposition that some of the people with the new ideas were killed by those holding power in the consensus.

Absolute bollocks.

I HATE dictatorship.

Then you should probably stay away from Internet forums. Very few of them are democracies.

Finally, you reappear after 18 months just to make a complete and utter dick of yourself. What is wrong with you?

Originally Posted by Strange

Originally Posted by Aristarchus in Exile

[Guitarist, you should perhaps know that Jimi Hendrix was considered a lunatic by conventional music people.

No he wasn't. And even if he were: so what?

If one crazy person was actually a genius, does that make all crazy people geniuses? No. It makes them crazy.

Secondly, G was referring to the maths forum where it is not a matter of opinion (like rock music) but a matter of proof (or otherwise). There is little room for opinion in science and none in maths.

Almost every radically important change in science throught the past 5,000 years has been met with such opposition that some of the people with the new ideas were killed by those holding power in the consensus.

Absolute bollocks.

I HATE dictatorship.

Then you should probably stay away from Internet forums. Very few of them are democracies.

Finally, you reappear after 18 months just to make a complete and utter dick of yourself. What is wrong with you?

So what about Hendrix? He is a prime example of a revolutionary new form of music being rejected by millions of people who said "What a horrible noise."
Are you to be a judge of who is crazy and who is not? If so, you would fit right in very easily with many moderators.
Quantum physics shows math is not a simple matter of 1+ 1 = 2. I suppose with your opinion on math you consider non-localiy an insane idea.
Bullocks? You would do well to read more history of science. But your use of the word "Bullocks" shows you cannot accept that everyone has a right to their opinion.
Democracies .. if forums are not democracies then they are dictatorships aren't they?
As to your question "what is wrong with you" why is my input seen as being "wrong?" I suspect you are a moderator and have been personally injured.
"Utter dick?" Why lower yourself to denegrating language used in the drug subculture and criminal element? Is it because you find intelligent and educated language difficult?

So what about Hendrix? He is a prime example of a revolutionary new form of music being rejected by millions of people who said "What a horrible noise."

And they were the same killjoys who had said much the same thing about Elvis and The Beatles and Janis Joplin and ... and ... .

The rest of us loved and admired him - and were overcome by slack-jawed wonder at his talent.

Originally Posted by Aristarchus in Exile

So what about Hendrix? He is a prime example of a revolutionary new form of music being rejected by millions of people who said "What a horrible noise."

Since when does "What a horrible noise" (which was probably said by millions about every single pop group of the time - and now) equal "crazy".

And millions more liked it. Many millions think the Smurfs movies are terrible, does that make them great art?

No, it is just a matter of taste.

Are you to be a judge of who is crazy and who is not?

No, because it is irrelevant. I am not the one claiming it is some sign of genius.

Quantum physics shows math is not a simple matter of 1+ 1 = 2.

No it doesn't.

I suppose with your opinion on math you consider non-localiy an insane idea.

No, becauser it comes out of the maths of quantum physics.

You would do well to read more history of science.

I have studied history of science. I don't recognise any truth in what you say. In recent history, about the only example I can think of is the way Eddington suppressed Chandrasekhar's work for a few years. But you get bullies in every profession. Eisntein's vehemnt opposition to quantum theory only made it stronger.

But your use of the word "Bullocks" shows you cannot accept that everyone has a right to their opinion.

Even in the study of history, you need facts to support an opinion.

Democracies .. if forums are not democracies then they are dictatorships aren't they?

Correct. You don't like dictatorships so perhaps you should just go away.

As to your question "what is wrong with you" why is my input seen as being "wrong?"

I can't help feeling there is something seriously wrong with someone who returns to a forum after 18 months absence simply to insult people.

I suspect you are a moderator and have been personally injured.

I have never been a moderator and haven't been "injured" (not since that nasty incident with an axe a couple of decades ago).

"Utter dick?" Why lower yourself to denegrating language used in the drug subculture and criminal element? Is it because you find intelligent and educated language difficult?

Just because sometimes the language of the street is the most appropriate language to use,.

Originally Posted by Strange

Originally Posted by Aristarchus in Exile

So what about Hendrix? He is a prime example of a revolutionary new form of music being rejected by millions of people who said "What a horrible noise."

Since when does "What a horrible noise" (which was probably said by millions about every single pop group of the time - and now) equal "crazy".

And millions more liked it. Many millions think the Smurfs movies are terrible, does that make them great art?

No, it is just a matter of taste.

Are you to be a judge of who is crazy and who is not?

No, because it is irrelevant. I am not the one claiming it is some sign of genius.

Quantum physics shows math is not a simple matter of 1+ 1 = 2.

No it doesn't.

I suppose with your opinion on math you consider non-localiy an insane idea.

No, becauser it comes out of the maths of quantum physics.

You would do well to read more history of science.

I have studied history of science. I don't recognise any truth in what you say. In recent history, about the only example I can think of is the way Eddington suppressed Chandrasekhar's work for a few years. But you get bullies in every profession. Eisntein's vehemnt opposition to quantum theory only made it stronger.

But your use of the word "Bullocks" shows you cannot accept that everyone has a right to their opinion.

Even in the study of history, you need facts to support an opinion.

Democracies .. if forums are not democracies then they are dictatorships aren't they?

Correct. You don't like dictatorships so perhaps you should just go away.

As to your question "what is wrong with you" why is my input seen as being "wrong?"

I can't help feeling there is something seriously wrong with someone who returns to a forum after 18 months absence simply to insult people.

I suspect you are a moderator and have been personally injured.

I have never been a moderator and haven't been "injured" (not since that nasty incident with an axe a couple of decades ago).

"Utter dick?" Why lower yourself to denegrating language used in the drug subculture and criminal element? Is it because you find intelligent and educated language difficult?

Just because sometimes the language of the street is the most appropriate language to use,.

Many older people think rock musicians are crazy.
Many people think the Smurfs IS great art.
I am not saying if someone is crazy their ideas are radical new scientific discoveries. In fact I am not going to judge someone crazy unless they do something killing someone.
Language of the street - if you are in a sleezy bar and drunk or stoned with drunk and stoned people than perhaps language of the street is appropriate, although it can easily get a person hurt in such a situation. Language of the street is used in forums like this one because there is no danger of getting a punch in the mouth in return. However, I believe it displays a person's intellect, and it certainly reduces my opinion of opinion of the person using such language. But even if the same sentiment were coached in disciplined language it shows that person to be unable to accept the opinion of other people no matter how unintelligent that person might appear to them. THAT is why, for instance, Russia was and is far ahead of U.S. science and technology. The power of the handgun in the U.S. is a very effective tool for eliminating dissenting opinion, and that mentality spills over into almost all areas of U.S. life.

Originally Posted by Aristarchus in Exile

So what about Hendrix? He is a prime example of a revolutionary new form of music being rejected by millions of people who said "What a horrible noise."

Hendrix may have been ahead of his time. His sounds weren't something people understood. He was paving a path.

That having been said, liking his music is a matter of opinion. Accepting flat Earth theory is a matter of stupidity.

Someone today may tell me that Justin Bieber's music is better than CCR. I would cringe and possibly try to run them over with my car, but I can't call them wrong. However, if someone tells me that atoms are made up of jellybeans, I can certainly cite evidence which shows they are wrong.

It should be noted that comparing one's self to persecuted minds or people unappreciated in their time is one of the strongest signs of a crank. I'm just glad you used Hendrix instead of Galileo.

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

Originally Posted by Aristarchus in Exile

So what about Hendrix? He is a prime example of a revolutionary new form of music being rejected by millions of people who said "What a horrible noise."

Hendrix may have been ahead of his time. His sounds weren't something people understood. He was paving a path.

That having been said, liking his music is a matter of opinion. Accepting flat Earth theory is a matter of stupidity.

Someone today may tell me that Justin Bieber's music is better than CCR. I would cringe and possibly try to run them over with my car, but I can't call them wrong. However, if someone tells me that atoms are made up of jellybeans, I can certainly cite evidence which shows they are wrong.

It should be noted that comparing one's self to persecuted minds or people unappreciated in their time is one of the strongest signs of a crank. I'm just glad you used Hendrix instead of Galileo.

Accepting Flat Earth theory in its day was not stupid it was logical unless you lived on the seashore and could see the masts of ships getting taller as they approached over the horizon. But even that curve may have been a local little curve even though it was on water. Especially gifted people could observe an eclipse, and notice that the earth cast a round shadow, which might have indicated to them that it was a sphere .. but it might have indicated a disc. True science is progression .. when we cast new ideas into the 'Pseudoscience' bin we denegrate those ideas and the person forming the idea rather than exploring them.

Cool...you're talking to 2007 Mac...I was much thinner back then.

Originally Posted by MacGyver1968

Cool...you're talking to 2007 Mac...I was much thinner back then.

Time travel.

Proven.

Originally Posted by Aristarchus in Exile

Accepting Flat Earth theory in its day was not stupid it was logical unless you lived on the seashore and could see the masts of ships getting taller as they approached over the horizon.

Let's skip the historical accuracy or otherwise of anyone accepting the flat Earth; you are once again giving an example where minds were changed by evidence. That is how science progresses. They didn't decide that the world is round because Hendrix was a great guitarist but because they could measure it.

Many older people think rock musicians are crazy.

Much much older.

My husband is a bit of a stick in the mud about rock music.

He thinks that rock died when Jimi Hendrix did.

He's 71.

What is funny is that the people who grew up with their parents saying things like, "they don't write decent tunes any more" or, "those lyrics are really stupid" are now saying exactly the same things about the music their children and grandchildren listen to...

It was ever thus.

Hey, and science is a bit like that!

All those stale old theories that scientists "cling on to dogmatically" were once radical cutting edge ideas. They got accepted because they were better explanations than the old ones. There may be some resistance to new ideas. But that is a good thing: it makes sure they get really, really well tested before being accepted. So one stick-in-the-mud scientist doesn't make any difference in the long run. And when they are as brilliant as Einstein, they strengthen the new theory by seriously challenging (the original meaning of proving) it.

It was ever thus.

*checks date on OP*
*looks at watch*

Okay, who's been jumping to the left...?

Originally Posted by Daecon

Okay, who's been jumping to the left...?

ROFL.

and who's putting their hands on their hips...

Originally Posted by adelady

Many older people think rock musicians are crazy.

Much much older.

My husband is a bit of a stick in the mud about rock music.

He thinks that rock died when Jimi Hendrix did.

He's 71.

Hey, I'm 40 years his junior and I might agree.

Originally Posted by Lynx_Fox

Originally Posted by Daecon

Okay, who's been jumping to the left...?

ROFL.

and who's putting their hands on their hips...

I brought my knees in tight...

But it's the pelvic thrust,
That really drives you insane.

What do the last 22 posts have to do with the OP? Did someone seriously just necromance a 5 year old thread just to go on and on about their pet gripe with a mod over something that has nothing to do with the thread they resurrected? And did MULTIPLE respected members AND moderators seriously take the bait and give this ass hat a stage from which to chant his pathetic ramblings about some crap that NO ONE should probably give two shits about?


Did this REALLY just happen?

I am embarrassed for the forum this day.

Nup.

Someone tried to make people dance a fandango to his choice of music.

So we took the instruments, played our own tune and danced in a conga line right out the door.

Originally Posted by adelady

Nup.

Someone tried to make people dance a fandango to his choice of music.

So we took the instruments, played our own tune and danced in a conga line right out the door.

Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time I walked into a room and got a completely wrong impression as to what I was walking into.

Originally Posted by seagypsy

Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time I walked into a room and got a completely wrong impression as to what I was walking into.

Originally Posted by John Galt

One view of forums such as this would hold that there is a benefit in the appearance of weirdos and their views.

1. They provide an opportunity for the entusiastic amateur to deepen his understanding of the topic by mounting arguments against the lunatic concepts.
2. Since these lunatic concepts are often commonly held beliefs of the undereducated, the counterarguments provide a means of educating the neophytes.
3. Sometimes the different perspectives force one to take a fresh look at long held views - always a good thing in science.

On the other hand to properly moderate any forum requires a depth of knowledge of the forum subject matter that is adequate to the task. How many moderators, or would be moderators can justifiably claim to be Renaissance men.

[It may not be apparent, but I agree with you. I just don't know how we go about doing it effectivley.]

Jeez, John, such bullshit as this is out of character for you. Facetious reigns? joc

Originally Posted by GiantEvil

Originally Posted by seagypsy

Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time I walked into a room and got a completely wrong impression as to what I was walking into.

I don't know why I didn't recognize that from the countless times college theater groups have hijacked karaoke night at just about every bar I have gone to. I really hate it when theater groups do show tunes like this. They destroy the songs because they don't sing them in character. Show tunes should ALWAYS be done in character.

Show tunes should ALWAYS be done in character.

When it comes to Rocky Horror Picture Show, the audience is supposed to be in character.

I loved it years ago driving past a picture theatre near us late on Friday nights. The street was full of people in elaborate costume waiting for the regular midnight screening.

Originally Posted by Aristarchus in Exile

Democracies .. if forums are not democracies then they are dictatorships aren't they?

Internet forums such as this aren't democracies, and they aren't places where anyone can just voice off on anything they want - they are privately owned places with a pre-determined culture and ethos, like someone's house, a company/workplace, or any other type of organisation. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinions about things, but this place isn't about personal opinions - it is about science. Therefore, if someone comes here to spread personal opinions which disregard already established science ( "I think Newton was wrong !", "Monoatomic gold heals cancer !", "Relativity must be wrong because I don't understand it !" ), then such a person will not fit in here. Other Internet forums will be more suited to them.

It is also not a dictatorship - more serious sanctions will usually be debated by the moderator and admin team in the "Area 51" section first, much like legislation is being debated in parliament. The mods and admins themselves are usually nominated by the wider forum community; also, many sanctions and interventions are the result of posters having been reported by multiple forum members using the appropriate reporting functions. Such reports show up in the Area 51 section, and will then be acted upon. Sometimes even moderators themselves get demoted ( though this is rare ). The whole process of forum governance is a two-way process, there is not any one single member here ( except the site admin, for obvious reasons ) who wields total power. The site admin rarely if ever gets involved in the day-to-day running of the place.

So tell me, what is your expectation - are you expecting us to cease moderating this place because you are of the personal opinion that moderation isn't needed ?

Originally Posted by adelady

I loved it years ago driving past a picture theatre near us late on Friday nights. The street was full of people in elaborate costume waiting for the regular midnight screening.

I went to see the Rocky Horror Show in a tiny theatre in London when it was first on. Quite entertaining, but then I forgot about it for 20+ years. It was quite weird to find it had been made into a movie and exploded to become this cult classic. No one told me.

Originally Posted by jocular

Jeez, John, such bullshit as this is out of character for you. Facetious reigns? joc

I'm surprised. Those are all good points. I have learnt a huge amount from listening to arguments against cranks and conspiracists (and by trying to argue against them myself).

The downside is that they do occasionally drive away valuable members who can't put up with the never-ending tide of idiocy.